"Groovin' on a Sunday afternoon...." Hearing that song brings back memories of good ol' Deer Park Avenue, summertime, driving down rte. 231 with radio blaring, windows open, and meeting up with friends as we slow to stop at a light. Oh what it would be like going back in time to our youth, or before, when Deer Park Avenue was one way - each way...
Take a ride with us down Deer Park Avenue, from main street in Babylon, through Jericho Turnpike in Northport. We will explore Deer Park back in the early days, through now, and the "Avenue" that has been called "the drag strip" by hotrod magazines.
Deer Park Avenue October 17,1961
Deer Park Avenue was a dirt road and was known as "Sumpwans Path" by the indians. (Wyandanch was once known as "West Deer Park", and in 1903, became it's own town, named after the Grand Sachem Chief Wyandanch.) Huntington being settled in 1653 and Village of Babylon settled in 1689, farmers utilized this road frequently, which prompted many to settle along this road.
It was in the early 50's that found the developement stage of the Deer Park community. People who lived on Deer Park Avenue had to either move their houses back or they were demolished in order to make room for the widening of Deer Park Avenue from a 2 lane "path" to a 4 lane road.
(Looking north from Grand Blvd., just before the bulldozers were to widen it.)
